Automatic phonograph



April 17, 1934. J. GABEL. 1,954,871

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed March 3l, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 baul/@7222971 dfb/m5 Gab/QL @M @www April 17',` 1934.

J'. GBEL. AUTOMATIC PI1oNoGm1.PH

Filed March al, 193:2` 4 sheets-sheet rE y 793 y? @f @fm/:rr

llllllllllllllll April 17, 1.934. J. GABEL AUTouATIc PHONOGRAPH Filed March :51. 1932 4 Shee Patented Apr. 17, l1934 PATENT. OFFICE AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH John Gabel, Glencoe, Ill., assigner to The John Gabel Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 31,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic phonographs and more particularly to phonographs equipped with a record storage magazine and means for automatically shifting records from the magazine to the turntable and back to the magazine for permitting successive playing of a series of records automatically.

The main objects of the invention are to provide a small and compact automatic phonograph il mechanism; to provide such a mechanism which is free from complicated devices which are apt to get out of order but which', on the other hand, embodies comparatively simple, durable and efficient operating mechanism; to provide mecha- 'is' nism of the class described which will be low in cost of production, operation and maintenance; and in general, it is the object of the invention to provide a simplified and compact automatic phonograph mechanism of the type referred to. Other objects and ladvantages lof the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (4 sheets), in which van automatic phonograph embodyihg a selected form of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:- Fig. 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation (the right-hand end of Fig. 1).

Fig. 4 is a perspective of certain details appearing in Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a detail illustration of certain elements appearing most prominently in Figs. 3 and 5.

VReferring now to the drawings, the improved phonograph structure includes frame work l0 -which is suitably formed to provide bosses and supporting ears or lugs for various elements of the mechanism. The frame may be formed of strap or angle iron parts or castings.

A turntable 11 is mounted on the upper end of a shaft l2 4which is driven by an electric motor 13 through the agency of worm and worm wheel gears 14 and 15 respectively (see Fig. 5). The motor 13 is secured inany suitable manner to a part of. the frame 11 which is provided for that purpose and the motor may be of any .suitable type, but preferably one provided with speed regulating means.

As evident from Figs. 1 and 2, the rotatable turntablell is located at one end of the mechanism, and at the other end of the mechanism a record magazine is provided. The magazine in- 1932, Serial No. 602,191

cludes horizontally spaced sets or pairs of arms 16 which constitute shelves for receiving records R. The records are held in proper stacked position in the magazine by means of stationary upper and lower center pins 17 and 18 respectively which are suitably mounted on the frame Work of the phonograph. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper and lower center pins 17 and 18 terminate in spaced relation to each other and their respective ends are pointed so as to be capable of entering the center openings in a record even though the record is not accurately positioned on the supports 16 by the transferring mechanism which will presently be described.

The supporting fingers 16 are carried by a bracket element 19 which is vertically slidably mounted on horizontally spaced guide rods 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the bracket 19 is also provided with vertically extending stop elements 21 (preferably helical springs) for limiting the inward movement of the records.

The record magazine is adapted to be adjusted vertically to align any selected record or to successively align all of the records with their operative position on the turntable 11. For this purpose, the magazine is provided with a bracket extension 2,2 which is engaged by an anti-friction roller 23 carried by one end of a lever 26. 'Ihe lever 26 is pivoted intermediate its ends as indicated at 27 on a suitable lug part of the frame. Intermediate the pivot 27 and anti-friction roll 23, the lever is provided 'with an anti-friction roller 28 which is adapted to engage the periphery of a cam 29. The other end of the lever 26 is connected to a lower portion of the frame 10 through the agency of a counterbalancing spring 36 which serves to counterbalance the weight o! the record magazine and records contained therein. l

The cam 29 is iixedly connected to a ratchet wheel 31, said cam and ratchet wheel being mounted for rotation on a shaft 32 which is suitably supported by frame lugs such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5.

Any suitable mechanism (for example, such as shown in the copending application of Emil C. Mueller, Serial No. 573,738, for Automatic phonograph) lmay be utilized for acting on the latchet 3l to impart step by step rotation. to tl' 1 cam 29 from a driven shaft 33. The shaft 33 is mounted for rotation in certain frame parts provided for that purpose. and it has secured to one end a crank arm 34.

The crank arm 34 is provided for imparting horizontal reciprocating movement to a record slidable in a suitable boss shifting frame 34 (see Fig. 2). The record shifting frame is mounted for horizontal sliding movement on the longitudinally extending frame members 35, through the agency of rollers 36. A record is adapted to be confined between the rear curved portions 37 of the shifter 342- and the inwardly extending legs 38 thereof so that when the shifter frame 34a moves horizontally to the left in Fig. 2, the record will be caused to move onto the vacant supporting fingers 16 of the magazine.- A pair of guide lugs 39, formed integral with the frame, are provided for guiding and supporting a record intermediate the turntable 11 and the magazine fingers 16.

The transferring frame 34n is provided with a depending lug 40 at one side to which an arm 41 is connected by means of a pin and slot connection indicated at 42 in Fig. 1. The lower end of the arm 41 is pivoted on a stationary pivot 43 carried by the frame 10. A link 44 is pivotally connected as indicated at 45 to the arm 41 intermediate its ends. The other end of the link 44 is provided with a lost motion connection with the crank arm 34. The lost motion connection is formed by means of a slot 46 in the link and a pin 47 carried by the end of the crank arm, extending through and slidable in the slot 46.

It will be observed that when the crank arm 34 rotates in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 1), that the initial portion of its rotation will not impart movement to the arm 41 or record shifting frame 34 since the crank pin 47 will ride freely in the slot 46. This lost motion connection is for the purpose of providing time during which centering means may be removed from engagement with the record before the shifting frame begins to transfer the record.

The record centering means just alluded to includes a centering pin 48 which is carried by the free end of an arm 49. The other end of the arm 49 is mounted on a rod 50 which is vertically slidable in bearings 51 and 52 which are formed integral with conveniently located portions of the frame l0. The lower end of the rod 50 rests upon one end of a lever 53 which is pivoted as indicated at 54 intermediate its ends, the other end of the lever being adapted to engage the periphery of a cam wheel 55.

When the cam wheel 55 is rotated with the shaft 33 and crank 34, it operates to rock the lever 53. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the arrangement is such that immediately upon starting rotation (in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5), it will effect upward swinging movement of the outer end of the arm 53 to thereby effect upward movement of the rod 50, the arm 49 and the centering pin 58. The extent of this upward movement is-sufficient to completely disengage the centering pin 48 from the record on the turntable.

The arm 48 is provided with a laterally extending arm element 56, is guided in its vertical movement by means of a guide pin 57 secured to the arm and vertically or lug formed integral with the frame 10. The arm portion 56 serves to engage a portion of the pick-up arm 58a to swing the pick-up upwardly away from the record about the pivot mounting 59 of the pick-up arm. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the pick-up arm 58a is mounted for vertical swinging movement about a pivot 59 which is carried by a pivot pin 60 which is mounted forhorizontal rotation in a bearing 61 which is formed integral with the frame 10.

the free end of whichA Upon upward movement of the rod 50, a laterally projecting pin 62, in this instance shown as a screw, engages one arm 63 of a bell crank which is pivoted as indicated at 64 near the lower end of a lug 65 which is formed integral with a part of the frame 10. The other arm 66 of the bell crank has pivotally connected to its free end a link 67 which is pivotally connected at its other end as indicated at 68 to an arm 69. The arm 69 at one end is secured to an end portion of the pivot pin 60 which projects through the bearing 6l.

When the rod 50 is moved upwardly by the cam 55. it first effects upward movement of the record centering pin and pick-up device, and after the pick-up device is clear of the record, it effects outward swinging movement of the pickup about the axis of the pivot pin 60. When the centering device 48 is free of the record, the crank pin 47 reaches the end of the slot 46 so as to thereafter effect rearward swinging movement of the arm 4l, thereby to shift the record transferring frame 34@- rearwardly. When the record transferring frame 34 reaches its rearmost position, the record transferred from the turntable is in alignment with the stack of records inthe magazine and the cam 29 is actuated by mechanism not herein shown to raise or lower the record magazine so as to bring a different record into operative relation with the transferring frame 34 and turntable 11. Continued rotation of the shaft 33 and the parts connected thereto serves to return the record frame and the record then carried thereby to the position illustrated in Fig` 1, after which the cam 55 permits the arm 53 to swing in the reverse direction under the influence of the weight of the rod 50 and parts supported thereby. Thus the record centering pin 48 is restored to its operative position as shown in Fig. 5 and the pick-up arm 58a and pick-up are lowered into engagement with thebeginning end of the record groove.

The mechanism for effecting rotation of the shaft 33, crank arm 34 and cam 55 includes a worm wheel 70 with which a worm gear '71 meshes. The worm wheel 70 is secured to the shaft 33 and the worm gear 71 is carried by a shaft 72 which is rotatably mounted in suitably apertured lugs 74-74 of a bracket 75. The lower end of the bracket 75 is mounted for swinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis by means of a pivot pin 76 which is supported in a portion of the frame as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A friction wheel 77 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 72 by means of a suitable friction clutch connection indicated at 78. The friction clutch connection 78 may be of any suitable type which will afford sufficient holding power to prevent undue slippage of the friction wheel 77. The friction wheel 77 is adapted to engage the periphery of the turntable 11 which is continuously rotated so as to be thereby driven. Hence, it will be seen that the shaft 33 is driven by means of a connection to the turntable 11. In the event that some unforeseen difficulty resists free operation of the various parts actuated by rotation of the shaft 33, the friction wheel 77 is permitted to slip relative to the shaft 72 by reason of the friction clutch connection 78. Hence. the described mounting of the friction wheel constitutes a safety device for preventing damage to the mechanism in the event that something occurs to prevent free operation of the record transferring frame or to other parts. A coil spring 79 stretched between the upper end of table 11 and means is provided whereby the pickup 58a, upon reaching its innermost position, i. e'. at the end of the sound grooves of a record permits the friction wheel to be moved into engagement with the turntable. u

The mechanism just referred to is best shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and will now be described. A stop arm in the form of an L-shaped member is pivotecl atthe end of one of itslegs asindicated at 81 on a boss 82 projecting from the rear sideof the bracket 75. Near thepivot pin 81, the stop arm 80 is provided with a stoppin 83 which is adapted to engage an inclined cam edge portion 84 of a thrust member 85. The thrustmember 85 is pivoted by means of :apivot screw 86 on a portion of the frame 10 and `it is connected by means of-a link `87 and spring 88 to an armor lever 89 which lis pivoted at one end as indicated at 90 in an upstanding lug portion 91 formed integral with the frame 10. vThe free end of the arm 89 is so shaped as to provide a :face 92 which is adapted tobe engagedrby a pawl 93 secured to thev free end of the `crank arm 34.

When the crank arm 34 nears ,the` end of its turning movement whereby ia record is transferred from the magazine to the turntable, and substantially at the Sametime that the `record centering pin 48 is restored to its operativeposition and the pick-upengagedwith the record, the pawl 93 engages the face 92of the arm 89 to swing the same downwardly-whereby the thrust member 85 is rocked in a counterclockwse direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4. Such rocking movement of the thrust member 85 acts against the pinv 83 `and through the stop arm 80 to effect outward swinging movement of the bracket 75 to gagement with the turntable 1l. For preventing the arm 80 from swinging upwardlyiabout itsV pivot 81, during the outward thrustof the member 85, a latch arm 94, pivoted at 95 on a portion of the frame 10, engages a rearwardly extending pin 96 carried by the free end of thestop arm 80. The latch 94 lis urgedV by means of a spring 97 to move to the operative position i1- lustrated in Fig." 4 where it is stopped by means of a stop pin 98 carried by the frame portion to which the latch arm is pivoted. i

When the playing of a record is completed and the pick-up is disposed'at the end of the sound grooves, a lug 99r which depends from the inner end of the arm 69 engages a set screw 100 which is carried by a laterally extending ear 101 of the latch arm 94. The records used in phonographs of this type are provided at their inner ends with Yan accentuated spiralv groove or the like which will impart a limited but quick movement of the tone arm inwardly of the record. When such movement is imparted to the pick-up arm, the lug 99 engages the set screw 100 and rocks the latch 94 against the tension'of `the spring 97 so 4as to dlsengage the latch from the stop pin 96 whereupon the spr'ng 79 may readily pull the bracket 75 inwardly `so as to cause the friction wheel '77 to engage the turntable. "Such inward movement is permittedy byreason of the fact that when the latch 94 is disengaged,'the arm'80 may readily swing upwardly so as to disengage the stop pin 83 from the cam edge 84 of the thrust member.

When the friction wheel 77 is permitted to en-` gage the-turntable 11 in the manner just described, the shaft 33 is rotated and the operations previouslydescribed are eiected. y

Atthe beginning of rotatlonof the crank arm 34,-the pawl 93 swings the arm 89 downwardly until the pawl rides past the end of the arm,

whereupon a spring 102 acts to return the thrust member `S5 and arm 89 to their normal positions. As shown in Fig.` 5, the spring102" is connected between apin projecting from the thrust member and a relatively stationary part of the mechamsm.

The free end. of the arm 69 is provided with a lug extension 103 to which is pivoially attached a dog 104. i The dog 104 is adapted to engage the serrated upper edge of an arm` 105 which is formed ntegral with the latch lever 94. This arrangement is such that inthe event that the pickup armk 58 is manually swung either inwardly or outwardlyv or in` some other manner caused to move abnormally, the pawl 104 will depress the arm 105 and lthereby effect disengagement of the latch 94 so as to set in operation the record transferring mechanism.

i The electric motor 13 which operates the mechy bulb switch 106 which is carried by one end of a` lever 107 which is pivoted intermediate its ends as indicated at 108 .on a portion of the frame provided therefore. The other end of the lever 107 has pivoted to it anarm 109 which constitutes an extension of the arm 103, the free end of said arm 107 resting against the periphery `oi a cam 110 which is carried by a manually rotatable shaft 111. A spring 112 stretched between the arm 109 and a stationary portion of the frameserves to normally swingthe arm 107 in a counter-clockwise directionas viewed in Fig'. 5, soas to thereby maintain the switch `106 in closed positon. When Ait is desired to stop the operation of thephonograph upon completion of a record, the cam 110 `is turned so as 4tofswing the arm 109 upwardly to the position` indicated in broken lines in Fig. 5. Whenin this position, the shoulder 113 formed near the free end of the arm will be engaged by a pin 114 carried by the gear wheel 70. It will be seen, that when the pin 114 engages the arm 109, it will effect upward movement thereof and thereby effect clockwise turningmove'ment of the arm 107, the result being that the switch element A106 is adjusted to a position in which `the electric circuitis opened. The position of `the shouldered arm 109 is such that the electric circuit to the motor wll bei broken when the record transferring frame 34 is in its rear position, i. e. aligned with the records in the magazine. Then when it is desired to again start the phonograph, the cam 110 must be restored to `its initial position, i. e. as shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to permit the spring 112 to swing the switch element 106 to close the electric circuit. Y

` Operation will - which carries the cr ank arm 34 pick-up arm 58"L will be gradually swung inwardly until the terminal spiral groove of the record effects a quick, short inward movement of the pick-up arm. The depending lug 99 of the pick-v up arm member 69 will then disengage' the latch 94 from the stop pin 96 whereby the `stop arm 80 is permitted to swing upwardly vto disengage the stop pin 83 from the cam edge 84 of the thrust member 85. Such upward swinging movement of the stop arm'80 is Aincident, to the inward pulling tendency of the spring '79 which is then permitted to effect engagement of the friction wheel '77 with the turntable ll, When the friction wheel 77 is thus engaged with the turntable 11, the shaft 72 is rotated and through the described gear connections serves to rotate the shaft 33 and cam` 55. Initial movement of the cam 55 acts-through the rock arm 53 to elevate the centeringpin 48 and pick-up .until they are entirely free from the record then on the turntable. Afterthe pickup is disengaged from the record, the bell crank arms 63 and 66 are rocked through the 'agency of the pin 62 of the rod 50 to eiect outward swinging movement of the pick-up. The outermost position of the pick-up is illustrated in Figs. 2

. and 3.

ring frame 34a.

During the upward movement of the rod 50 and the movementof the parts actuated thereby, the crank pin 47 rides idly in the slot 46, but when the record is released from the centering pin 48,

thesaid crank pin engages the end of the slot.

46 to thereafter, as an incident to continued rotation of the shaft 33 and crank 34, to effect rea-rward shifting movement of the record transfer- Assuming that the mechanism is adjusted for continuous operation, the shaft 33 and crank arm 34 continued to rotate while the cam 29 is actuated to adjust the record magazine to align a new record with the transferring frame and turntable.V During the adjustment of the record magazine, the record transferring frame remains stationary, continued rotation of the -crank arm 34 and crank pin 47 being permitted by reason of the idle return movement of the crank pin 4'1 in theslotl 46. By the time the crank pin 47 is returned to thefront end of vthe slot 46, the record magazine adjusting operation has been ccmpleted so that the the record transferring frame may again be shifted, this timeforwardly to carry a record from the magazine to the turntable.

When the record is delivered to the turntable, the cam 55 permits the rock arm 53 to resume its initial positionas illustrated in Fig. 5 and the centering pin and pick-up are lowered by gravity into engagement with the record. At the end of the turning movement of the crank 34, the pawl 93 acts against the arm 89 to effect outward movement of the thrust element 85 which then acts against the stop arm pin 83 to effect outward movement of the bracket and consequent disengagement of the friction wheel 77 from the turntable 11. The latchmember 94 is restored to its operative position relative to the stop arm 80 bythe spring 91 when the pick-up arm 58% and auxiliary arm 69 are swung outwardly so as to be disengaged from the latch member. During the time that the friction wheel 77 is in engagement with the turntable, the spring 102 serves to support the thrust member and arm 89 in proper operative position and the stop arm 80 is maintained in proper 115 which serves as a support for the pin 83 of the position by means of a finger 88 and link 87. to impart outward swinging movementv to the thrust member and it will be seen that because of the inclined arrangementof the cam edge 84 which acts on the si Jp arm pin 33, there isa tendency for the stop arm 80 to swing upwardly about its pivot 81. Suchmovement is, of course, prevented by the latch 94. Hence, when the Alatch 94 isdisengaged, the' outward swinging tendency of the-thrust member 85 cooperates with the inward pulling tendency of the spring 79 to causethe stop arm 80 to swing upwardly so as to cause the stop pin 83 to clear the cam edge 84 of the thrust member.

Changes may be made inthe described structure without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible, consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as myv inventiont 1. In an automatic phonograph of the class described, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a record magazine, a horizontally reciprocable record shifting device for transferring records from the magazine to the turntable and means including a friction wheel adapted to be rotated by frictional engagement with said turntable, for imparting reciprocating movement to said record shifting device.

2.v Iny an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the same,

a record magazine,` a horizontally reciprocable duce the record, means for imparting reciprocating movementto said record shifting device including afriction wheel adapted to engage said turntable to be thereby driven, said friction wheel being normally maintained out of engagement with said turntable, andv means controlled by said reproducer for effecting operative engagement of said friction wheel and turntable.

3. In an 'automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a record magazine, a record shifter `for transferring records from the magazine to the turntable, a reproducer for engaging a record on said turntable to reproduce the record, a fric- 1 "tion wheel adapted to engage said turntable so as to be thereby driven for actuating said record shifter, latch mechanism .normally holding said friction wheel out of engagement'with the turntable, and means controlled by said reproducer for releasing said latch mechanism yto effect operative engagement of said friction wheel with said turntable.

4. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a record magazine, a record shifter for transferring records from the magazine to the turntable, a reproducer for engaging a record on said turntable to reproduce the' record, a friction wheel adapted to engage said turntable so as to be thereby driven for actuating said record shifter,` a bracket rotatably supporting said friction wheel, meansnormally urging saidsupport and frictionv wheel to move towards said turntable, a stop arm carried by said support, thrust means acting through said stop arm to urge said support to carry said friction wheelaway from said turntable, means normallymaintaining said stop arm and thrust means in cooperative engagement with each other, and means connected to said reproducer for effecting release of the stop arm and thrust means to permit said supporting bracket and friction wheel to move towards said turntable.

5. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating Athe turntable, a record magazine, a record shifter for transferring records from the magazine to the turntable, a reproducer for engaging a record on said turntable to reproduce the record, driving means adapted to engage said turntable so as to be thereby driven for actuating said record shifter, a bracket mounted for movement towards and from said turntable and rotatably supporting said driving means, means normally urging said supporting bracket and driving means to move toward said turntable, a stop arm carried by said supporting bracket, thrust means acting through said stop arm to normally maintain said driving means out of engagement with said turntable, a latch normally maintaining said stop arm and thrust means in cooperative engagement, and means connected to said reproducer for automatically disengaging said latch to thereby permit disengagement of said stop arm and thrust means to permit said supporting bracket and driving means to move towards said turntable.

6. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a record magazine, a record shifter for transferring records from the magazine to the turntable, a reproducer for engaging a record on said turntable to reproduce the record, driving means adapted to engage said turntable so as to be thereby driven for actuating said record shifter, a bracket mounted for movement towards and from. said turntable and rotatably supporting said driving means, means normally urging said supporting bracket and driving means to move toward said turntable, a stop arm carried by said supporting bracket thrust means acting through said stop arm to normally maintain said driving means out of engagement with said turntable, said thrust means comprising a movably mounted member adapted to engage said stop arm, a pivotally mounted arm spaced from said movably mounted member, a spring connection between said arm and member, means rotatable as an incident to the record transferring operation for engaging said pivoted arm to impart movement, through said spring connection to said movable member to thereby urge said supporting bracket and driving means away from said turntable, a latch normally maintaining said stop arm and thrust means in cooperative engagement, and means connected to said reproducer for disengaging said latch to thereby permit disengagement of said stop arm and thrust means to permit said supporting bracket and driving means to move towards said turntable.

7. In an automatic phonograph, the combina-V tion of a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a record magazine, record transferring means for transferring a record from the magazine to said turntable, a reproducer for engaging a record on said turntable to reproduce the record, means for actuating said transferring means including a driving element adapted to engage said turntable to be thereby actuated, spring means normally urging said driving means into engagement with the turntable, means including a cushion element, actuated as an incident to the operation of said record transferring means for moving said driving means out of engagement with said turntable upon delivery of a record to the turntable, and means controlled by said reproducer for disabling said last mentioned means to thereby permit said mentioned spring means to move the driving means into operative engagement with the turntable.

8. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, power means for rotating said turntable, a record magazine, means for shifting records from the magazine to the turntable and back to the magazine, a reproducer for engaging a record on the turntable to reproduce the record, means for operating said record transferring means including a crank arm, means for driving said crank arm including a friction wheel adapted to engage said turntable so as to be thereby rotated, means for resiliently urging said friction wheel into engagement with the turntable, means actuated by said crank arm for urging said friction wheel to move out of engagement with the turntable against the tendency of said resilient means, and means controlled by said reproducer for disabling said crank actuated means to thereby permit the friction wheel to be moved into engagement with the turntable.

9. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, power means for rotating said turntable, a recordmagazine, means for transferring records from said magazine to the turntable and back to the magazine, means including a crank arm for actuating said record transferring means, a reproducer for engaging a record on the turntable to reproduce the same, means for driving said crank arm including a friction wheel adapted to engage said turntable to be thereby rotated, a pivotally mounted bracket rotatably supporting said friction wheel, spring means connected between said bracket and a. stationary portion of theV phonograph for effecting swinging movement of the bracket to bring said friction wheel into engagement with said turntable, a stop arm pivoted on said bracket, thrust means for holding said friction wheel out of engagement with the turntable against the tendency of said spring means, said thrust means including a pivotally mounted arm having an operative connection with said stop arm, crank actuated means connected to said pivoted arm for swinging the latter in such direction as to counteract the effect of said spring means, a latch for normally locking said pivoted arm and stop arm in operative engagement, and means connected to said reproducer for disengaging said latch to thereby permit disengagement of said pivoted arm and stop arm, whereby said thrust means is disabled and said spring means permitted to effect operative engagement of said friction wheel with said turntable.

10. In an automatic phonograph, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a record magazine, means for transferring records from said magazine to said turntable and back to the magazine including a horizontally reciprocable record shifter, and means for actuating said record shifter including an arm pivotally mounted at one end on a relatively stationary portion of the phonograph and pivotally connected at its other end to said record shifter, a rotatable crank, a link connected at its opposite ends to said crank and to said arm intermediate the ends of the latter, the connection lat one of the ends of said crank being such as to tically movable means for centering a record on the turntable, and means for effecting engagement and disengagement of said centering means during the lost movement of said crank arm rela; tive to said shifter arm.

11. In an automatic phonograph of the class described, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating the turntable, a vertically adjustiable record magazine, means for transferring a record from the magazine to the turntable, a member frictionally engaging the periphery of the turntable so as to be driven thereby, and means actuated by said member for adjusting said record magazine and for operating said-record transferring means.

12. In an automatic phonograph of the class described, the combination of a turntable, means for rotating said turntable, a. reproducer for engaging a record on the turntable to reproduce the same, a record magazine, a record shifter for transferring records from the magazine to the turntable, a member adapted to frictionally engage aportion of the turntable when rotating so las to be driven thereby, mechanism driven by said member for actuating said record shifter, spring means urging said member into engagement with said turntable portion, an element carried by apart of said driven mechanism and movable as an incident to movement imparted to said mechanism by said frictionally driven member, means including a latch device adapted to be engaged by said element for maintaining said member out of engagement with said turntable portion, and means movable with said reproducer for disengagng said latch to permit said spring means to eiect engagement of said member with said turntable portion.

JOHN GABEL. 

